The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Patrick J O'Neil

Garrett M Billman

A forebody for an aeronautical vehicle is provided. The forebody includes an exterior wall having a first half and a second half . The first half has a first porous section and the second half has a second porous section . The first half and the second half also have a first exterior side experiencing a first fluidic pressure and a second exterior side experiencing a second fluidic pressure, respectively. A hollow inner cavity is fluidically coupled to the first exterior side and the second exterior side and allows fluid passage between the first exterior side and the second exterior side through the first porous section , the inner cavity , and the second porous section . The exterior wall equalizes the first fluidic pressure with the second fluidic pressure. Additional forebodies and methods for performing the same are also provided.

Forebody vortex alleviation device

A passive porosity management device and process for an airfoil which provides a mechanism and method for controlling and modifying the lift, drag and flow field characteristics on an airfoil through the controlled seepage and transference of air utilizing passive porosity through one or more regions of an airfoil and into, and out of, one or more plenum cavities disposed in the interior portion of the airfoil.

Passive porosity airfoil management device

A passive porosity airfoil lift management device employed on a leading edge region of said airfoil whereby the lift on said airfoil may be varied and controlled by passively transferring air pressure between the upper surface and lower surfaces of said leading edge region of the airfoil through upper and lower porous skin regions, upper and lower plenum cavities disposed in said airfoil, and controllably monitoring and regulating said passive air pressure transference with at least one valve and a microprocessor.

Growing community of inventors

Florissant, MO, United States of America

Patrick J O'Neil